Inclined carrousel propelled by weight-shifting of occupants to change the center of gravity



p 1969 J. WILLARD 3,439,914

INCLINED CARROUSEL PROPELLED BY WEIGHT-SHIFTING OF OCCUPANTS TO CHANGE THE CENTER OF GRAVITY Filed Feb. 19, 1965 INVENTOR. J Ol/N W/ll/IRD A/TUPNEYS United States Patent US. Cl. 27233 8 Claims ABSTRACT 01? THE DISCLOSURE A carrousel device utilizing a body member rotatable in an oblique plane and carrying a rotatable seat at one end thereof. An operating member mounted on the axis of rotation of the seat and fixed against rotation to the body member permits the occupant of the seat to rotate the seat, thus inducing rotation of the body member about an oblique axis.

My invention relates to a self-propelled carrousel, and more particularly to a carrousel which is operable by one or more riders and revolves about an oblique axis.

It is an object of my invention to provide a carrousel which may be operated by one or more persons.

It is another object of my invention to provide a carrousel which gives the sensation of rising and falling to the user.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a carrousel which has a minimum of moving parts and is simple to construct and operate.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art in the course of the following specification and claims when taken in light of the accompanying drawings.

Broadly, my invention comprises a body member rota ably mounted on an oblique axle member. The axle member engages the body member intermediate the ends of the body member and a seat is rotatably mounted near one end of the body member. An operating member is mounted on the same end of the body member as the seat member and is generally coaxial with the seat member and rigidly aflixed to the body member. Balancing means is positioned near the other end of the body member to compensate for the weight of an occupant of the seat member. To operate the carrousel, the occupant of the seat member imparts a rotational force to the operating member. This causes the carrousel to rotate about its inclined or oblique axis. The path followed by the occupant of the seat member is both circular with respect to the axle member and also, because of the inclination of the axle member, follows an upward and downward path.

A better understanding of my invention may be obtained in light of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric of a carrousel in accordance with my invention which is adapted for use by a single person;

FIGURE 2 is an elevation illustrating the carrousel of my invention adapted for use by two riders or occupants;

FIGURE 3 is a partial elevation, partially in section, taken along 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a partial elevation, partially in section, taken along 4-4 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 5 is a isometric illustrating another embodiment of my invention.

Referring to the drawings, support means of any desired stable form is provided. Preferably, the support means 10 is adjustable to fit the contour of the ground or other like base on which the carrousel rests. In the embodiment shown, a four-legged support means is employed, but this is not critical. Any other desired shape or form or number of legs may be employed. Usually, the support member extends at least to the outer edge of the area defined by the rotation of the body member 11. When suitable anchoring is provided, shorter legs or the like may be employed for the support means 10.

An inclined axle 12 is fixedly mounted on the support means 10. In the embodiment shown, a vertical section 14 supported by flanges 15 is employed to raise the rotational bearing portion of axle member 12 to the desired height.

Elongated body member 11 may be formed of any suitable substantially rigid material and may be in the form of a plank, an inverted channel, a T-bar, or any like shape. In the embodiment shown, a simple plank is employed for ease in illustration. The body member 11 is rotatably mounted on the oblique axle member 12 at a point intermediate its ends. Adjusting apertures 16 are usually provided so that compensation for great disparity in the weights of users is easily accomplished by simply changing the mounting position of the body member 11 on the oblique axle member 12. In mounting the body member 11, a bearing surface 18 is generally provided. Suitable washers 19 or the like engage a collar 20 to maintain the body member at the desired height and the assembly is usually secured by a cap member 22 or the like which engages axle member 12.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 4, a seat member 23 is formed to hold an occupant in a sitting position with both legs extending in a single plane parallel to the plane of the body member 11 and is rotatably mounted near one end of the body member 11. The axis of rotation of the seat member 23 is perpendicular to the plane of the body member 11. In the embodiment shown, rotation of the seat member is about an operating member 24 which is rigidly afiixed to the body member 11 and has a wheel 26 mounted thereon for ease in operation. Suitable bearing means, generally designated 27, is provided to permit the seat to rotate freely with respect to the body member 11 and its substantially integral operating member 24.

Balancing means 28, such as a weight or the like, is positioned on the body member 11 near the end opposite the seat member 23. For best operation of my carrousel, substantial balance between the balancing means and the occupant of the seat is required. As hereinbefore mentioned, adjustment of the balance may be accomplished by altering the point of rotation of body member 11 about oblique axle 12.

In the case of a two-person carrousel such as that illustrated in FIGURE 2, the balancing means is actually another occupant in a second rotatable seat member 23 which is mounted as hereinbefore described. Adjustment between disparity in the weights of the occupants may be made by altering the point of rotation of body member 11 about its inclined axle 12. FIGURE 2 illustrates an embodiment of my invention in which both seats have operating members and wheels mounted concentrically with the axis of rotation thereof. It is to be understood that my carrousel in operation with two persons may have a single operating means or may be simply operated by only one of the occupants. When only one occupant of the two-seat embodiment of my invention applies rotational force to his operating member, the other person riding the carrousel simply functions as a balancing means.

Seat member 23 is adapted to enclose the legs of an occupant thereof. This is a safety feature and substantially prevents the legs of an occupant from becoming entangled in the apparatus during use, but is not required if reasonable care is exercised.

Referring now to FIGURE 5, I provide another optional safety device. Persons, and children in particular, tend to forget about or ignore the unoccupied end of my singleoccupant carrousel. Accordingly, I provide safety disc means 30 which may or may not rotate with the body member 11. The safety disc means 30 has its center substantially at the center of rotation of the body member, and covers the unoccupied end of the carrousel, thereby preventing inadvertent contact therewith.

Propulsion of the carrousel is accomplished by the occupant applying a rotational force to the operating member 24, preferably by use of a wheel or like mechanism 26. When the seat member is in the lowermost portion of the carrousel are, it may be necessary to apply a rotational force to the wheel in alternating directions in order to build up sutlicient momentum to get the carrousel moving in a full circular arc. Once the carrousel is in motion, the force required to maintain such motion is minimal. Consequently, my carrousel is easily operable by a child. The angle of the oblique axle member relative to the earth is not particularly critical. As the axle member approaches the vertical, rotation of the carrousel is easier to start and maintain, but movement is slower. Conversely, as the axle member is tilted farther and farther from the vertical, operation becomes somewhat more difficult but the speed of rotation is greater. I have found that an angle of from about 10 to about 25 degrees from the vertical is operable and prefer an angle of about 15 degrees for best operation of my carrousel.

Various modifications may be made in my invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof, and it is to be understood that I limit myself only as defined in the appended claims.

1 claim:

1. A self-propelled carrousel comprising support means having an axle member afiixed thereto, said axle member defining an oblique axis of rotation relative to the earth, an elongated body member rotatably mounted intermediate its ends on said axle member, a seat member formed to hold an occupant in a sitting position with both legs extended in a single plane parallel to the plane of the body member and being rotatably mounted near one end of said body member, an operating member mounted rigid with said body member and concentric with the axis of rotation of said seat member, said operating member extending through said seat for said occupant to straddle, said operating member enabling said seat to be rotated about its axis by the occupant, and balancing means Positioned near the other end of said body member, whereby rotational force applied to said operating member by an occupant of said seat member causes said body member to rotate about said oblique axle member.

2. A self-propelled carrousel comprising support means having an axle member affixed thereto, said axle member defining an oblique axis of rotation relative to the earth, an elongated body member rotatably mounted intermediate its ends on said axle member, a seat member formed to hold an occupant in a sitting position with both legs extended in a single plane parallel to the plane of the body member and being rotatably mounted near one end of said body member, an operating member mounted rigid with said body member and concentric with the axis of rotation of said seat member, said operating member extending through said seat for said occupant to straddle, said operating member enabling said seat to be rotated about its axis by the occupant, wheel mens secured to said operating member, and balancing means positioned near the other end of said body member, whereby rotational force applied to said Wheel means by an occupant of said seat member causes said body member to rotate about said oblique axle member.

3. A self-propelled carrousel comprising support means having an axle member afiixed thereto, said axle member defining an oblique axis of rotation relative to the earth, an elongated body member rotatably mounted intermediate its ends on said axle member and including a plurality of adjusting apertures, a seat member formed to hold an occupant in a sitting position with both legs extended in a single plane parallel to the plane of the body member and being rotatably mounted near one end of said body member, an operating member mounted rigid with said body member and concentric with the axis of rotation of said seat member, said operating member extending through said seat for said occupant to straddle, said operating member enabling said seat to be rotated about its axis by the occupant, wheel means secured to said operating member, and balancing means positioned near the other end of said body member, whereby a rotational force applied to said wheel means by an occupant of said seat member causes said body member to rotate about said oblique axle member.

4. A self-propelled carrousel comprising support means having an axle member aflixed thereto, said axle member defining an oblique axis of rotation relative to the earth, an elongated body member rotatably mounted intermediate its ends on said axle member and including a plurality of adjusting apertures, a seat member formed to hold an occupant in a sitting position with both legs extended in a single plane parallel to the plane of the body member and being rotatably mounted near one end of said body member, said seat member adapted to enclose the legs of an occupant thereof, an operating member mounted rigid with said body member and concentric with the axis of rotation of said seat member, said operating member extending through said seat for said occupant to straddle, said operating member enabling said seat to be rotated about its axis by the occupant, wheel means secured to said operating member, and balancing means positioned near the other end of said body member, whereby a rotational force applied to said wheel means by an occupant of said seat member causes said body member to rotate about said oblique axle member.

5. A self-propelled carrousel comprising support means having an axle member afiixed thereto, said axle member defining an oblique axis of rotation relative to the earth, an elongated body member rotatably mounted intermediate its ends on said axle member, a pair of seat members each formed to hold an occupant in a sitting position with both legs extending in a single plane parallel to the plane of the body member and each being rotatably mounted near a different end of said body member, at least one operating member mounted rigid with said body member and concentric with the axis of rotation of at least one said seat member, said operating member extending through said seat for said occupant to straddle, said operating member enabling said seat to be rotated about its axis by the occupant to cause rotation of said elongated body member when the other seat is essentially counterbalanced by an occupant.

6. A self-propelled carrousel comprising support means having an axle member affixed thereto, said axle member defining an oblique axis of rotation relative to the earth, an elongated body member rotatably mounted intermediate its ends on said axle member, a pair of seat members each formed to hold an occupant in a sitting position with both legs extending in a single plane parallel to the plane of the body member and each being rotatably mounted near a diiferent end of said body member, a pair of operating members mounted rigid with said body memher and concentric with the axes of rotation of said seat members, said operating member extending through one said seat for said occupant to straddle, said operating member enabling said seat to be rotated about its axis by the occupant, and wheel means secured to each said operating member, whereby a rotational force applied to said wheel means by at least one occupant of said seat members causes said body member to rotate about said oblique axle member when the elongated body member is essentially counterbalanced by an occupant in the other said seat.

7. A self-propelled carrousel comprising support means having an axle member affixed thereto, said axle member defining an oblique axis of rotation relative to the earth, an elongated body member rotatably mounted intermediate its ends on said axle member and including a plurality of adjusting apertures, a pair of seat members each formed to hold an occupant in a sitting position with both legs extending in a single plane parallel to the plane of the body member and each being rotatably mounted near a different end of said body member, a pair of operating members mounted rigid with said body member and concentric with the axis of rotation of said seat members, said operating members extending through said seats for the occupants thereof to straddle, said operating members enabling said seats to be rotated about the axes by the respective occupants and wheel means secured to said operating members, whereby a rotational force applied to said wheel means by at least one occupant of said seat members causes said body member to rotate about the said oblique axle member when the body member is essentially counterbalanced by the occupant in the other seat.

8. A self-propelled carrousel comprising support means having an axle member afiixed thereto, said axle member defining an oblique axis of rotation relative to the earth, an elongated body member rotatably mounted intermediate its ends on said axle member and including a plurality of adjusting apertures, a pair of seat members each formed to hold an occupant in a sitting position with both legs extending in a single plane parallel to the plane of the body member and each being rotatably mounted near a different end of said body member, said seat members adapted to enclose the legs of an occupant thereof, a. pair of operating members mounted rigid with said body member and concentric with the axes of rotation of said seat members, said operating members extending through said seats for the occupants thereof to straddle, said operating members enabling said seats to be rotated about their axes by the respective occupants and wheels means secured to said operating members, whereby a rotational force applied to said wheel means by at least one occupant of said seat members causes said body member to rotate about said oblique axle member when said body member is essentially counterbalanced by an occupant in the other seat.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,550,040 8/1925 Nagy 27254 1,612,970 1/1927 Fisher 27251 1,791,227 2/1931 Russell 272--33 1,799,409 4/ 1931 Custer 272-51 1,877,256 9/1932 Siebert 272-51 3,298,685 1/1967 Williams 272-33 FOREIGN PATENTS 170,783 11/ 1921 Great Britain. 430,714 6/ 1935 Great Britain.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

ARNOLD W. KRAMER, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 272--51 

